Navigation
- How to Get Support
- sp_Blitz: Overall Health Check
- sp_BlitzCache: Find the Most Resource-Intensive Queries
- sp_BlitzIndex: Tune Your Indexes
- sp_BlitzFirst: Real-Time Performance Advice
- sp_BlitzWho: What Queries are Running Now
- Backups and Restores:
- Parameters Common to Many of the Stored Procedures
- License MIT
You're a DBA, sysadmin, or developer who manages Microsoft SQL Servers. It's your fault if they're down or slow. These tools help you understand what's going on in your server.
- When you want an overall health check, run sp_Blitz.
- To learn which queries have been using the most resources, run sp_BlitzCache.
- To analyze which indexes are missing or slowing you down, run sp_BlitzIndex.
- To find out why the server is slow right now, run sp_BlitzFirst.
To install, download the latest release ZIP, then run the SQL files in the master database. (You can use other databases if you prefer.)
The First Responder Kit runs on:
- SQL Server 2008, 2008R2, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017 - yes, fully supported
- SQL Server 2000, 2005 - not supported by Microsoft anymore, so we don't either
- Amazon RDS SQL Server - fully supported
- Azure SQL DB - sp_BlitzFirst, sp_BlitzIndex, and sp_BlitzWho work as-is. To run sp_BlitzCache, do a search/replace in the code to replace ## with # (because global temp tables aren't supported in Azure SQL DB) - then it works fine. sp_Blitz doesn't work at all.
Everyone here is expected to abide by the Contributor Covenant Code of Conduct.
Want to talk to the developers? Get an invite to SQLCommunity.slack.com, and we're in the #FirstResponderKit channel.
Got a question? Ask it on DBA.StackExchange.com. Tag your question with the script name, like sp_Blitz, sp_BlitzCache, sp_BlitzIndex, etc, and we’ll be alerted of it right away.
Want to contribute by writing, testing, or documenting code, or suggesting a new check? Read the contributing.md file.
Run sp_Blitz daily or weekly for an overall health check. Just run it from SQL Server Management Studio, and you'll get a prioritized list of issues on your server right now:
Output columns include:
- Priority - 1 is the most urgent, stuff that could get you fired. The warnings get progressively less urgent.
- FindingsGroup, Findings - describe the problem sp_Blitz found on the server.
- DatabaseName - the database having the problem. If it's null, it's a server-wide problem.
- URL - copy/paste this into a browser for more information.
- Details - not just bland text, but dynamically generated stuff with more info.
Commonly used parameters:
- @CheckUserDatabaseObjects = 0 - by default, we check inside user databases for things like triggers or heaps. Turn this off (0) to make checks go faster, or ignore stuff you can't fix if you're managing third party databases. If a server has 50+ databases, @CheckUserDatabaseObjects is automatically turned off unless...
- @BringThePain = 1 - required if you want to run @CheckUserDatabaseObjects = 1 with over 50 databases. It's gonna be slow.
- @CheckServerInfo = 1 - includes additional rows at priority 250 with server configuration details like service accounts.
- @IgnorePrioritiesAbove = 50 - if you want a daily bulletin of the most important warnings, set @IgnorePrioritiesAbove = 50 to only get the urgent stuff.
In addition to the parameters common to many of the stored procedures, here are the ones specific to sp_Blitz:
sp_Blitz @OutputDatabaseName = 'DBAtools', @OutputSchemaName = 'dbo', @OutputTableName = 'BlitzResults';Checks for the existence of a table DBAtools.dbo.BlitzResults, creates it if necessary, then adds the output of sp_Blitz into this table. This table is designed to support multiple outputs from multiple servers, so you can track your server's configuration history over time.
CREATE TABLE dbo.BlitzChecksToSkip (
ServerName NVARCHAR(128),
DatabaseName NVARCHAR(128),
CheckID INT
);
GO
INSERT INTO dbo.BlitzChecksToSkip (ServerName, DatabaseName, CheckID)
VALUES (NULL, 'SalesDB', 50)
sp_Blitz @SkipChecksDatabase = 'DBAtools', @SkipChecksSchema = 'dbo', @SkipChecksTable = 'BlitzChecksToSkip'Checks for the existence of a table named Fred - just kidding, named DBAtools.dbo.BlitzChecksToSkip. The table needs at least the columns shown above (ServerName, DatabaseName, and CheckID). For each row:
- If the DatabaseName is populated but CheckID is null, then all checks will be skipped for that database
- If both DatabaseName and CheckID are populated, then that check will be skipped for that database
- If CheckID is populated but DatabaseName is null, then that check will be skipped for all databases
sp_BlitzCache looks at your plan cache where SQL Server keeps track of which queries have run recently, and how much impact they've had on the server.
By default, it includes two result sets:
- The first result set shows your 10 most resource-intensive queries.
- The second result set explains the contents of the Warnings column - but it only shows the warnings that were produced in the first result set. (It's kinda like the most relevant glossary of execution plan terms.)
Output columns include:
- Database - the database context where the query ran. Keep in mind that if you fully qualify your object names, the same query might be run from multiple databases.
- Cost - the Estimated Subtree Cost of the query, what Kendra Little calls "Query Bucks."
- Query Text - don't copy/paste from here - it's only a quick reference. A better source for the query will show up later on.
- Warnings - problems we found.
- Created At - when the plan showed up in the cache.
- Last Execution - maybe the query only runs at night.
- Query Plan - click on this, and the graphical plan pops up.
The @SortOrder parameter lets you pick which top 10 queries you want to examine:
- reads - logical reads
- CPU - from total_worker_time in sys.dm_exec_query_stats
- executions - how many times the query ran since the CreationDate
- xpm - executions per minute, derived from the CreationDate and LastExecution
- recent compilations - if you're looking for things that are recompiling a lot
- memory grant - if you're troubleshooting a RESOURCE_SEMAPHORE issue and want to find queries getting a lot of memory
- writes - if you wanna find those pesky ETL processes
- You can also use average or avg for a lot of the sorts, like @SortOrder = 'avg reads'
Other common parameters include:
- @Top = 10 - by default, you get 10 plans, but you can ask for more. Just know that the more you get, the slower it goes.
- @ExportToExcel = 1 - turn this on, and it doesn't return XML fields that would hinder you from copy/pasting the data into Excel.
- @ExpertMode = 1 - turn this on, and you get more columns with more data. Doesn't take longer to run though.
- @IgnoreSystemDBs = 0 - if you want to show queries in master/model/msdb. By default we hide these.
- @MinimumExecutionCount = 0 - in servers like data warehouses where lots of queries only run a few times, you can set a floor number for examination.
In addition to the parameters common to many of the stored procedures, here are the ones specific to sp_BlitzCache:
- OnlyQueryHashes - if you want to examine specific query plans, you can pass in a comma-separated list of them in a string.
- IgnoreQueryHashes - if you know some queries suck and you don't want to see them, you can pass in a comma-separated list of them.
- OnlySqlHandles, @IgnoreSqlHandles - just like the above two params
- @DatabaseName - if you only want to analyze plans in a single database. However, keep in mind that this is only the database context. A single query that runs in Database1 can join across objects in Database2 and Database3, but we can only know that it ran in Database1.
SQL Server tracks your indexes: how big they are, how often they change, whether they're used to make queries go faster, and which indexes you should consider adding. The results columns are fairly self-explanatory.
By default, sp_BlitzIndex analyzes the indexes of the database you're in (your current context.)
Common parameters include:
- @DatabaseName - if you want to analyze a specific database
- @SchemaName, @TableName - if you pass in these, sp_BlitzIndex does a deeper-dive analysis of just one table. You get several result sets back describing more information about the table's current indexes, foreign key relationships, missing indexes, and fields in the table.
- @GetAllDatabases = 1 - slower, but lets you analyze all the databases at once, up to 50. If you want more than 50 databases, you also have to pass in @BringThePain = 1.
- @ThresholdMB = 250 - by default, we only analyze objects over 250MB because you're busy.
- @Mode = 0 (default) - get different data with 0=Diagnose, 1=Summarize, 2=Index Usage Detail, 3=Missing Index Detail, 4=Diagnose Details.
In addition to the parameters common to many of the stored procedures, here are the ones specific to sp_BlitzIndex:
- @SkipPartitions = 1 - add this if you want to analyze large partitioned tables. We skip these by default for performance reasons.
- @SkipStatistics = 0 - right now, by default, we skip statistics analysis because we've had some performance issues on this.
- @Filter = 0 (default) - 1=No low-usage warnings for objects with 0 reads. 2=Only warn for objects >= 500MB
When performance emergencies strike, this should be the first stored proc in the kit you run.
It takes a sample from a bunch of DMVs (wait stats, Perfmon counters, plan cache), waits 5 seconds, and then takes another sample. It examines the differences between the samples, and then gives you a prioritized list of things that might be causing performance issues right now. Examples include:
- Data or log file growing (or heaven forbid, shrinking)
- Backup or restore running
- DBCC operation happening
If no problems are found, it'll tell you that too. That's one of our favorite features because you can have your help desk team run sp_BlitzFirst and read the output to you over the phone. If no problems are found, you can keep right on drinking at the bar. (Ha! Just kidding, you'll still have to close out your tab, but at least you'll feel better about finishing that drink rather than trying to sober up.)
Common sp_BlitzFirst parameters include:
- @Seconds = 5 by default. You can specify longer samples if you want to track stats during a load test or demo, for example.
- @CheckProcedureCache = 0 by default. When set to 1, this outputs the most resource-intensive queries during the time span. The data is calculated using sys.dm_exec_query_stats, which is a lightweight way of doing things (as opposed to starting up a trace or XE session). We don't turn this on by default because it tends to produce a lot of end user questions.
- @ShowSleepingSPIDs = 0 by default. When set to 1, shows long-running sleeping queries that might be blocking others.
- @ExpertMode = 0 by default. When set to 1, it calls sp_BlitzWho when it starts (to show you what queries are running right now), plus outputs additional result sets for wait stats, Perfmon counters, and file stats during the sample, then finishes with one final execution of sp_BlitzWho to show you what was running at the end of the sample.
This is like sp_who, except it goes into way, way, way more details.
It's designed for query tuners, so it includes things like memory grants, degrees of parallelism, and execution plans.
Checks your backups and reports estimated RPO and RTO based on historical data in msdb, or a centralized location for [msdb].dbo.backupset.
Parameters include:
-
@HoursBack -- How many hours into backup history you want to go. Should be a negative number (we're going back in time, after all). But if you enter a positive number, we'll make it negative for you. You're welcome.
-
@MSDBName -- if you need to prefix dbo.backupset with an alternate database name.
-
@AGName -- If you have more than 1 AG on the server, and you don't know the listener name, specify the name of the AG you want to use the listener for, to push backup data. This may get used during analysis in a future release for filtering.
-
@RestoreSpeedFullMBps --[FIXFIX] Brent can word this better than I can
-
@RestoreSpeedDiffMBps -- Nothing yet
-
@RestoreSpeedLogMBps -- Nothing yet
-
@PushBackupHistoryToListener -- Turn this to 1 to skip analysis and use sp_BlitzBackups to push backup data from msdb to a centralized location (more the mechanics of this to follow)
-
@WriteBackupsToListenerName -- This is the name of the AG listener, and MUST have a linked server configured pointing to it. Yes, that means you need to create a linked server that points to the AG Listener, with the appropriate permissions to write data.
-
@WriteBackupsToDatabaseName -- This can't be 'msdb' if you're going to use the backup data pushing mechanism. We can't write to your actual msdb tables.
-
@WriteBackupsLastHours -- How many hours in the past you want to move data for. Should be a negative number (we're going back in time, after all). But if you enter a positive number, we'll make it negative for you. You're welcome.
An example run of sp_BlitzBackups to push data looks like this:
EXEC sp_BlitzBackups @PushBackupHistoryToListener = 1, -- Turn it on!
@WriteBackupsToListenerName = 'AG_LISTENER_NAME', -- Name of AG Listener and Linked Server
@WriteBackupsToDatabaseName = 'FAKE_MSDB_NAME', -- Fake MSDB name you want to push to. Remember, can't be real MSDB.
@WriteBackupsLastHours = -24 -- Hours back in time you want to go
In an effort to not clog your servers up, we've taken some care in batching things as we move data. Inspired by Michael J. Swart's Take Care When Scripting Batches, we only move data in 10 minute intervals.
The reason behind that is, if you have 500 databases, and you're taking log backups every minute, you can have a lot of data to move. A 5000 row batch should move pretty quickly.
You manage a SQL Server instance with hundreds or thousands of mission-critical databases. You want to back them all up as quickly as possible, and one maintenance plan job isn't going to cut it.
Let's scale out our backup jobs by:
- Creating a table with a list of databases and their desired Recovery Point Objective (RPO, aka data loss) - done with sp_AllNightLog_Setup
- Set up several Agent jobs to back up databases as necessary - also done with sp_AllNightLog_Setup
- Inside each of those Agent jobs, they call sp_AllNightLog @Backup = 1, which loops through the table to find databases that need to be backed up, then call Ola Hallengren's DatabaseBackup stored procedure
- Keeping that database list up to date as new databases are added - done by a job calling sp_AllNightLog @PollForNewDatabases = 1
For more information about how this works, see sp_AllNightLog documentation.
Known issues:
- The msdbCentral database name is hard-coded.
- sp_AllNightLog depends on Ola Hallengren's DatabaseBackup, which must be installed separately. (We're not checking for it right now.)
If you use Ola Hallengren's backup scripts, DatabaseRestore.sql helps you rapidly restore a database to the most recent point in time.
Parameters include:
- @Database - the database's name, like LogShipMe
- @RestoreDatabaseName
- @BackupPathFull - typically a UNC path like '\FILESERVER\BACKUPS\SQL2016PROD1A\LogShipMe\FULL' that points to where the full backups are stored. Note that if the path doesn't exist, we don't create it, and the query might take 30+ seconds if you specify an invalid server name.
- @BackupPathDiff, @BackupPathLog - as with the Full, this should be set to the exact path where the differentials and logs are stored. We don't append anything to these parameters.
- @MoveFiles, @MoveDataDrive, @MoveLogDrive - if you want to restore to somewhere other than your default database locations.
- @RunCheckDB - default 0. When set to 1, we run Ola Hallengren's DatabaseIntegrityCheck stored procedure on this database, and log the results to table. We use that stored proc's default parameters, nothing fancy.
- @TestRestore - default 0. When set to 1, we delete the database after the restore completes. Used for just testing your restores. Especially useful in combination with @RunCheckDB = 1 because we'll delete the database after running checkdb, but know that we delete the database even if it fails checkdb tests.
- @RestoreDiff - default 0. When set to 1, we restore the ncessary full, differential, and log backups (instead of just full and log) to get to the most recent point in time.
- @ContinueLogs - default 0. When set to 1, we don't restore a full or differential backup - we only restore the transaction log backups. Good for continuous log restores with tools like sp_AllNightLog.
- @RunRecovery - default 0. When set to 1, we run RESTORE WITH RECOVERY, putting the database into writable mode, and no additional log backups can be restored.
- @Debug - default 0. When 1, we print out messages of what we're doing in the messages tab of SSMS.
- @StopAt NVARCHAR(14) - pass in a date time to stop your restores at a time like '20170508201501'.
For information about how this works, see Tara Kizer's white paper on Log Shipping 2.0 with Google Compute Engine.
- @Help = 1 - returns a result set or prints messages explaining the stored procedure's input and output. Make sure to check the Messages tab in SSMS to read it.
- @ExpertMode = 1 - turns on more details useful for digging deeper into results.
- @OutputDatabaseName, @OutputSchemaName, @OutputTableName - pass all three of these in, and the stored proc's output will be written to a table. We'll create the table if it doesn't already exist.
- @OutputServerName - not functional yet. To track (or help!) implementation status: BrentOzarULTD#293